Morning by Morning, November 18 - "Altar of Incense"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense" (Luke 1:11).

 

As I settled in to my prayer place this morning, I heard right away in my heart "Altar of Incense." And You brought to mind the angelic encounter Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had at the Altar of Incense in the Holy of Holies of Your Presence.

 

This place of prayer is my altar of incense. This is my place of heavenly encounters with Your Presence, morning by morning, to begin my day grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. This is where I lift up my prayers and where You lift up my spirit into the heavenly embrace of communion with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. As Your Word promises me, "Those who seek Me diligently shall find Me" (Proverbs 8:17). "O Lord, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch" (Psalm 5:3).

 

And of course, I seek to stay connected throughout the moments of my day, to carry You with me in my spirit, but these our personal, intimate times. These are personal, intentional times where You are my only focus, where I seek first the Kingdom of God and Your righteousness (Mathew 6:33). I lift up my heart and lift up my prayers as incense before Your throne. And I pray my prayers are a pleasing aroma to You, my Lord (Revelation 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:14). 

 

Someone as said, "As prayers go up, blessings come down." You are my Blessing. As my prayers go up, You come down and fill me up! (Ephesians 5:18) Then You send me out from my altar of incense into my day to release the aroma of Christ everywhere I go (2 Corinthians 2:15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you experience the Presence of the Lord as you diligently seek Him in the communion of prayer from the altar of incense of your heart, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, November 15 - "In the Fear of the Lord"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart Your words of Spirit and Truth, as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...

 

"He charged them:  'This is how you shall act:  in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart'" (2 Chronicles 19:6).

 

By the power of Your grace at work within me, may I live my life and make my choices, taking these principles to heart:

 

"In the fear of the Lord." Lord, give me a conscious awareness of Your Presence. You're with me always. You see all I do and say. And at the same time, You also hear all I think, You know all I desire, You're aware of even the intents of my heart. In the fear of the Lord, let me live my life as if You were listening in on every conversation and looking in on every situation. Because You are. So may I live in reverent awe of Your Presence and Your place of authority in my life. Let the fear of the Lord be my treasure and my pearl of great price (Isaiah 33:6).

 

"In faithfulness." Lord, may I be found faithful in obedience to Your will. Give me a heart that seeks to find and follow the will of God, trusting You to know what's best. Make me more sensitive to Your correction and more discerning to Your leading. Crucify my flesh and fill me with Your Spirit. Take away my rebellion and remove my resistance, as You renew my passion for the beauty of holiness and the joy of obedience.

 

"With my whole heart." Lord, give me a pure heart that's holy and undefiled, that wholly Yours. I want to be able to love You with an undivided heart in faithful loyalty to You alone. I want to love You with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul, and all my strength. Uproot and remove my compromise with the false "gods" of this world, my flesh, and the devil. Take away my desires for the lust of life apart from the life of Christ in me.

 

I can't do any of this on my own. I can't even desire any of this on my own. Apart from You, I can do nothing. But by the power of Your grace at work within me, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can live my life by these standards and with the goals in view -- in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, with my whole heart. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you live out the moments and choices of your day in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart, to experience the beauty of holiness and the joy of obedience in the One who loves you and wants the very best for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, November 14 - The Lord is Always By My Side!

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and in every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for His heavenly Kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever" (2 Timothy 4:17-18).

 

So many times You have stood by me. Even at times when it felt like most everyone else had abandoned me, You stood by me (v. 16). But the truth is You've always surrounded me with those who pray for me and encourage me and fight through the battles of this life with me. You've never left me nor forsaken me, and You've always been with me -- just as You promised (Matthew 28:20).

 

I have a spiritual enemy who is "like a roaring lion" -- my "adversary the devil (who) prowls around, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). He attacks with his lies, with his manipulation, with his attempts to intimidate me, confuse me, and control me. But I praise You and thank You that "the One who is in (me) is greater than the one who is in the world!" (1 John 4:4) And if God be for me, who can stand against me! (Romans 8:31). No weapon formed against me will prosper, for this is my heritage and vindication in You! (Isaiah 54:17)

 

You've saved me for Your heavenly Kingdom. And You've called me to proclaim Your heavenly message -- to prepare the way of the Lord, to prepare the bride of Christ, to share the hope that is within me. You called me to listen for Your word in humility and proclaim Your word with boldness, as I seek to live Your word in faith and obedience. You love me enough to correct me when I'm wrong, to redirect me when I'm off the path, but always to encourage me as Your son and remind me that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable and without repentance (Hebrews 12:6; Romans 11:29).

 

I know my adversary will not just run away after every battle with his tail between his legs forever, but will always be looking for his next "opportune time" (Luke 4:13). But I also know You already know every plan and scheme, every attack that will come, and every way You'll use even that to make me more humble, more faithful, more vigilant, more courageous, more prepared, more mature, even more like You (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 5:8; 1 John 4:17). And I know You'll be right here beside me through whatever comes.

 

Just as You stood with the three in the fiery furnace, You stand with me. Just as You stood with Daniel in the Lion's den, You stand with me. You send Your Word; You send Your angels; You send manifestations of Your Presence in ways that I don't always know at the time, but I've come to know You're always there.

 

You're on my side and You're by my side! You are faithful! And You "will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for Your heavenly Kingdom! To You be the glory forever and ever!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you know the Lord is always by your side and will rescue you from every evil attack and and save you for His heavenly Kingdom, secure in your identity to fulfill your calling and destiny in Him, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

   

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, November 13 - No Place for "Stupid and Senseless Controversies"

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart for my life today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

 

"Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:22-26).

 

Lord, help me discern what are the "stupid and senseless controversies" that "breed quarrels." Help me discern "from a pure heart" with razor sharp discernment what is Your heart on the things that matter. Some controversies are "stupid and senseless" because they don't really matter; they're just snares of the devil to steal away my time and attention from the pursuit of "righteousness, faith, love, and peace" that do matter. Other controversies are "stupid and senseless" because they are just attempts to avoid the truth, disregard Your authority, justify sin, condone complacency, and maintain the kingdoms of this world instead of preparing the way of the Lord and the bride of Christ and the Kingdom of God. Give me grace to know the difference. Give me courage to take stand in the fights that matter and humility to stand down in the fights that don't (1 Timothy 6:12).

 

Is there only one way of salvation? Is there really a devil who sets snares to entrap us? Does life begin at conception or at some trimester in the womb or at birth or does it even matter if the rights and choices of the "mother" always trump the rights and choices of the "fetus"? Should women be preachers or pastors or elders or be able to speak at all in "a church building" or from behind "a pulpit" or in front of "men"? Is the sanctity of marriage, birth gender, human sexuality subject to the authority of Scripture or to any standard at all other than our own desire to do what's right in our own eyes as a law unto ourselves? Or is there even such a thing as "the authority of Scripture" and Divine inspiration or is "the Bible" just a series of writings and philosophies of angry or gullible men trying to figure out "God" and the way things seem to work in our world from their own distorted sense of self-importance and deceptive spirituality?

 

What's a senseless quarrel and what's a quest for truth? Where's the place to speak up and speak out and what's the time to listen and learn with humility and grace to consider a broader perspective? When should I be bold as a lion in the unity of agreement in the essentials and when should I be as gentle as a dove in charity for contrary opinions surrounding the non-essentials? ...

 

As I watch and wait before You, as I listen for Your leading in the silence of surrender, what's coming to my heart and up to my mind to form these thoughts is this:  "Apart from Me, you can do nothing. Let My Word be Your Standard and My Spirit be Your Guide. Seek Me first. Humble yourself in My sight. Trust My heart and My ways. Surrender in obedience to what you discern to be My leading. When you are wrong, I will correct you and redirect you. When you are right, I will confirm it to you and affirm your obedience. This is how I teach you and mature you, as you allow Me to put My thoughts in your mind and My desires in your heart to lead you in the paths of My righteousness."

 

Yes, Lord. By Your Word and Your Spirit, You will show me the way. "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). And You have given us Your Spirit to confirm to us Your Word and lead us in Your ways. "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.... Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God.... We have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).

 

I need You, Lord. I'm not wise enough in my own wisdom to sort out any of this, but You are. And just as Your Word says, whenever I need wisdom and seek You for it, You will provide all I need (James 1:5). Just as when I need Your courage, Your humility, Your discernment, Your grace, Your correction, Your confirmation, You will provide all I need. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17 NKJV).'

 

Lord, lead me. Because, Lord, I need You. I want to be "found faithful" in You (1 Corinthians 4:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you be found faithful in Christ, grounded in God's Word and led by God's Spirit, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning November 11 - Persist through the Pruning for the Joy of the Glory to Come

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Vine, and I am one of Your branches. I abide in You and You abide in me -- my spirit with Your Spirit, Your Life flowing through my life. ...

 

"I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.... My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.... These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full" (John 15:1-11 NASB).

 

As Your Holy Spirit brings the picture to mind of a tree bring pruned, I notice there are branches that bear fruit and branches that don't. Even the branches that don't bear fruit are still part of the tree and they're still branches. They are branches that formed and grew over time. And at one time there must have been the life-giving sap from the roots and trunk of the tree flowing through them or they would not have ever formed and grown to be the branches they are today. But at the same time, they either never bore fruit or they no longer bear fruit. And they must be pruned.

 

"Pruned" is a nice way of saying "cut off," "cast away," "thrown into the fire and burned." And as I understand Your Word and the Word Picture You're painting with this illustration, there are some things in me and all of Your disciples that must be "pruned" -- some things that need to be "cut off," "cast away," and "thrown into the fire and burned."

 

What I want to say is "Ouch!" What I want to say is "Not that one!" What I want to say is "Lord, look at all the good fruit! Are You sure that really needs to go? It's not really that bad is it? Give it a little more time and it may turn around and be fruitful! Have a little grace, God!"

 

But what You're inviting me to say is "Yes, Lord. You know best. You know what You're doing. I trust You. You love me and You're for me and You want the best for me. You'll give me the grace I need to press through the pain and persist through the pruning. And I know one day I'll look back and say "Thank You, it really was worth it all and You really are worthy of it all. Though sorrow may last for a nighttime, joy comes with the morning. This slight, momentary affliction is not worth comparing to the eternal weight of glory beyond all measure You're preparing for me as You're pruning me."

 

My Father, my Vinedresser, You discipline the children You love and You discipline us in Your love (Hebrews 12:7-11). You caress us as You correct us, You hold us as You heal us, and You assure us as You sanctify us (2 Corinthians 4:17). You're growing us up to a maturity, to the full measure of the stature of Christ You've created us to be (Ephesians 4:13). The pain of the pruning now will not be worth comparing to the display of Your glory to come. We are the work of Your hands, Your "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display Your glory" (Isaiah 61:3). So in the power of Your love, give me the grace to say "Lord, have Your way." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you persist through the pruning for the sake of the joy of the glory to come, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!

Morning by Morning, November 8 - Divine Alignment

 

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart, step by step, choice by choice, throughout the moments of my day and morning by morning, throughout every day of my life. ...

 

"So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory" (Colossian 3:1-4).

 

I need a divine alignment. I need my mind to be in line with the mind of Christ, who is my life. How do I do that, Lord? ...

 

I believe I hear You speaking in my heart: "My son, My beloved one, seek Me and pursue Me as you surrender to Me. You can't make this happen, but You can allow Me to make this happen in you. For you, close your eyes, open your hands, open your spirit, and pursue Me with your heart. Wait in the silence. Listen for My leading. Let My Scriptures come to your mind. Let My Word enter your heart. Let My Spirit lead your thoughts. I am transforming you by the renewing of your mind. I am aligning your mind with My mind, your desires with My desires, so that your ways become more like My ways and your nature become more like My nature."  ...

 

Yes, Lord. Let it be so. As best as I can and all by Your grace, this is how I choose to begin my day and entrust my life into Your hands and Your heart. I receive Your divine alignment. I receive the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I embrace Your transformation of my ways and Your renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2). I embrace Your nature within my nature. "Thus (You) have given (me), through these things, (Your) precious and very great promises, so that through them (I) may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and become (a) participant of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4).

 

Thank You for all Your grace and patient with me in this life-long process of making me more like You each day. "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this:  when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). "Because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, may you embrace your divine alignment throughout the moments of your day and morning by morning every day of your life, as God's Holy Spirit makes you more like Jesus each day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!

  

Thank you for joining with me on this daily journey of prayer, seeking to begin each day embraced by the Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. It's my fervent prayer these devotionals are a blessing and encouragement to you!  Please pass them on to someone who could use the blessing and encouragement of God's Word and Spirit!

 

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Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries

Healing from the Inside Out

www.Messiah-Ministries.org 

  

Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries

4 Dominion Drive, Building 1

San Antonio, Texas 78257

www.RaphaGodMinistries.com 

Please share this word to encourage a friend!